One should lock up terrorists and throw away the key: The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spoken out loud after the attack from London for sharper anti-terrorism laws. At least 14 years should terrorists spend behind bars. It makes "no sense if people convicted of terrorist offenses are dismissed early," Johnson said on a Saturday visit to the scene.
Shortly after the crime had become known that the assassin was a convicted terrorist. After six years in prison, he was released prematurely in December 2018.
But Johnson made the promise of stricter crackdowns against terrorists a condition. His party would have to obtain the majority in the upcoming election - only then he could implement the plans.
The British PM is in campaign mode. And as macabre as that may sound, the terrorist attack in London with two dead people could not be entirely inconvenient. In less than two weeks Britain will decide who will join the new British Parliament. For Johnson, the terrorist attack means that he can now prove his strength.
"A super green super sports car stuck in a traffic jam"
It was only recently that the Prime Minister introduced his election program - while his party published a 64-page "Manifesto 2019", detailing their vision for Britain's future. One of the guiding principles is to "unleash the potential of the UK". The country has felt "trapped" for the past three and a half years, like a lion in a cage, and "like a super-green supercar stuck in traffic".
At the moment Johnson is on an election campaign, and is also fighting for voters in the north of England - in the traditional Labor Party area.
The reaction of opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn came promptly: he clearly criticized the Prime Minister's efforts on the new anti-terror laws - and tried to use the subject for the election campaign.
A "complete disaster"
The circumstances of the premature release of the terrorist are a "complete disaster", so Corbyn. "There has to be a full investigation," said the Labor politician. It was questionable whether the perpetrator should have been released from prison at all. Corbyn also contradicted Johnson directly: terrorists would not necessarily serve their full sentence.
The attack on London could thus become the dominant theme in the final spurt before the election. A poll by The Times polling agency YouGov recently showed that Johnson's chances are not bad, while Corbyn is losing more and more support.
The election to parliament is also considered a landmark vote on the further Brexit course in the UK. Had been voted last Thursday, the Tories would have received 359 of 650 seats - 42 more than in the last election in 2017. The opposition Labor Party of Jeremy Corbyn, however, would have conquered only 211 seats and 51 less than last. The Scottish National Party (SNP) of Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon would have come to 43 seats, the Liberal Democrats to 13.